Tuesday, 13 October 2026

The Borrowed Book

 


After yet another weekend trip to Wickes for some more building supplies that Alan needed for the bathrooms of the bungalow, we went on to Morecambe for breakfast.  I'll be honest I had a bit of an ulterior motive for the venue selection ... a brand new second-hand bookshop was opening that morning.  

I had been following the progress of the proprietors on Instagram as they turned the derelict shell of an old shop into the most cosy looking little book emporium, and with it being in one of our favourite seaside destinations it just made sense to visit on it's first day.  😁

Alan was all for it too as it meant he had his favourite cooked breakfast in the little café that we regularly frequent on the sea front there.


Alan treated me to three books, and we had a nice chat with the owners.


I could not resist picking up one of their 'Blind Dates with a Book'.  Remember the lucky bags of our childhood years, well this is the adult readers version.

The only thing is, it is that pretty I have yet to bring myself to open the lovely little package.


The ex-retailer in me thinks that this is a genius way of making extra money for a book that maybe they had a few copies of or that they thought might not be that popular.  Oh well, one rainy day I will break into my 'Blind Date' and see what I have as my surprise.


The address of the shop in case anyone is interested.


Oh and yes, this is their loyalty card ... I obviously need to buy some more books.  😉


Sue xx


30 comments:

  1. A new second-hand book shop with a loyalty card - what a treat!

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    1. My idea of heaven, and when they have been open for a week they are going to start serving coffee too ... could it get any better. :-)

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  2. What a lovely place and I love how they've wrapped up that mystery book!

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    1. It's such a cosy little shop, just perfect after a windy walk along the promenade.

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  3. Love ind Date with a Book options, especially in a preloved book store.

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    1. It's a genius way to sell off duplicates of books, or ones that may have stuck around for a while. :-)

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  4. The library here during covid did a wrapped book for patrons to check out sight unseen. It was rather fun.

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    1. It's a really good idea isn't it. :-)

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  5. Ohhh, I love me a bookstore. Enjoy your Date with a Book.

    God bless.

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    1. I still haven't opened it, once I do the anticipation will be all gone. ;-)

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  6. Hoping they succeed. Bookshops and libraries need all the support they can get

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    1. They really do, I love it when any new shop opens either on or just off any high street. We need more small independents don't we.

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  7. What a charming bookshop, I wish them well. When I met my husband he was a bookseller and managed a specialist (aviation) bookshop in the Holloway Road, London. He later owned it and I know how precarious owning a bookshop can be. He did well mostly because it was specialist, I really hope the bookshop you visited thrives. What a lovely idea with the loyalty card and the Date with a Book. Regards Sue H

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    1. Oh gosh! I was recommended to go there years ago when I was organising a retirement gift for someone at work (an aviation enthusiast). I've never forgotten the young man who helped me, Simon? My colleague and I both said how lovely it was to meet someone so knowledgeable about a 'male' topic who didn't patronise 2 women who had no clue, just a budget lol. Our colleague was thrilled with the books we ended up buying.

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    2. How amazing Simon used to be my Husband's assistant and in fact when my husband retired Simon took over the business and when the lease ran out on the Holloway premises he took the shop to Tunbridge Wells where he lived. He is still running the business but from a business park somewhere in Kent, he mostly does on line business now and weekend air shows. That is so good your experience was a happy one. Simon is a great guy, now in his 50s when he first started with my husband he was the Saturday boy aged 16! A small world. Sue H

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    3. It's funny I was only thinking when I came out that they need to think of something unique to have a bit of a speciality in, rather than just mostly fiction books.

      I love that you too have found your link with each other, and that it's all about a bookshop is even better. I hope you don't mind me butting in. ;-)

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    4. Of course not it is your lovely blog that has brought this about. It is such a small world. My Husband was convinced that being specialist was what kept the shop profitable, but I love a bookshop of any kind and also second hand book shops. Regards Sue H

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    5. Haha, I was only joking. 🙂
      Any bookshop is a good bookshop. 😀

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    6. It's a v weird but lovely coincidence as I didn't work or live in London but used to have to go for a monthly meeting. I was part of a national clinical trial, the male colleague was our senior medic who was a former RAF medic. I heard about the bookshop from a research nurse on another trial, again, someone I only met once a month but like me, a stationery shop junkie, so wherever that monthly meeting was held, the two of us would go stationery hunting lol. That's how we met Celia Imrie which is a whole other story!

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  8. This looks like a place I could get lost in!

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    1. Haha ... but only in your head and in books, it's a tiny little shop ... I bet I could find you. ;-)

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  9. I neeeeeed to move to Morcambe!

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    1. There are now three good second-hand bookshops there AND a big market stall, maybe I need to move there too. :-)

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  10. I love a decent secondhand bookshop and how lovely to combine breakfast and books. Hope they succeed. Xx

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    1. I think we will be combining breakfast and books on an even more regular basis from now on. :-)

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  11. What a fabulous shop! I would not have been able to resist buying the wrapped book either. The shop deserves to do well, doesn't it 😍 please share which book it was when you can bear to open it 😊
    Angie

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    1. When I open it I will take some photos, there's all sorts of little things tucked into the folds of the parcel. :-)

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  12. Thanks for sharing about this place as we are regular visitors to Morecambe. The Brew Me Sunshine Cafe does excellent coffee and cakes and a lot of the proceeds goes to Galloway Society for Visual Impairment as they share the building.

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    1. We've never been to this café, it looks really nice though, we should give it a try. Our favourite in Morecambe is Ralphy's. They have great vegan cakes, and do a good breakfast menu, and they are dog friendly too. 😀

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